RDU airport to add more TSA checkpoints to match post-pandemic growth

Airport leaders recently agreed to green light $21 million for supporting different projects and improvements.

If you've been to the airport anytime recently, you've probably seen long lines at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoints.

"During the pandemic we lost 90% of our traffic so things are coming back quicker than a lot of analyst expect them to," Hawco said.

The goal is to add two more checkpoint lanes inside Terminal 2.

"There’s already construction that has gone on ... we will have a total of 14 lines here at the checkpoint," she said.

Wait times at TSA checkpoints peaked during the pandemic. Now, it could take more than 15 minutes to get through security.

"As the numbers go up, they're going to add more flights, and as more flights are coming in, we are going to need more space," said Mark Howell, spokesperson with the TSA.

This new influx of funding is a major turnaround from what RDU officials called a "survival budget" during the pandemic.